Changes to the 2020 Oliphant Science Awards

We are excited that the Oliphant Science Awards will still be running in 2020! The changes we have made to the Oliphant Science Awards this year offer even more opportunities for students to be creative with their projects and for coordinators / judges to submit and judge more projects online. If you haven't been involved in the competition before perhaps this is the year to give it a go! New competition initiatives can be found below and highlighted by a blue box in the Information Booklet here. 

Key Dates

• Thursday 4 June: Student registrations close
• Friday 5 June: Judges registrations close
• Thursday 2 July – Wednesday 22 July: Multimedia, Science Writing, Scientific Inquiry entries and Reports for - Computer Programming, Apps and Robotics MUST be submitted online.
• Date TBA: Computer Programming, Apps & Robotics Judging Day
• Thursday 20 August: Crystal Investigation, Models & Inventions, Photography, Games & Poster entries to - be delivered. Submission details will be provided to all coordinators closer to this date as will instructions and dates for project collection.
• Saturday 22 August: Final judging
• Presentation Ceremony: Date and venue TBA however this is most likely to be rescheduled for Term 4.

Open Day

It is with much consideration and regret that we announce that our popular Open Day will NOT be going ahead in 2020, however we will be working hard to develop digital alternatives to help showcase our 2020 winners to the broader community! Please be sure to keep a digital example of your project as it is likely that winning projects will be showcased on the SASTA Oliphant Science Awards website.

Computer Programming & Robotics

In presenting your Computer Programming, Apps & Robotics entry:

• You must electronically submit your Report/Programming details via the website by Wednesday 22 July 2020. Please ensure that you attach your Cover Sheet. Please be sure to include any links to your program/app or videos/photos of your robot in your report for judges to review. In 2020, students are asked to include an email address where they can be contacted directly by the judges should they require any further information.
• The date of the judging day will be confirmed in July (should it be able to be held). Otherwise judges will review all submitted projects electronically and will be in touch should they need to ask any questions.

Games (electronic and board)

In presenting your Games entry:

• In 2020 students are asked to consider recording a short video of the game being played to include as part of their submission.

Models & Inventions

In presenting your Models & Inventions entry:

For the 2020 Competition, more information about the method for submission will be sent closer to the due date. However we recommend you prepare the following:

• A short video of your model or invention in action to show how it works.
• Special consideration for country schools: Because of the difficulty and possible damage to models and inventions, students may send in a video of their entry working instead of their actual entry. Please upload the students’ videos, risk assessment and reports to a Dropbox or Google Drive folder and share the link with becci@sasta.asn.au

Keep an eye on the website for any additional changes.